I have a 65 and just learned that the radiator was rotted out. So lucky me, I get to go shopping for a brand new one! I looked through the various forum posts and catalogs and have narrowed it down to either a reproduction brass and copper from somewhere like Year One or NPD and one of the custom aluminum ones you guys rave about from streetrodstuff.com. Can someone tell me the pros and cons of each kind? Prices are within +/- $50 for the two styles. It's going in a 1965 Malibu, TH350 Tranny which is mild now but will be making around 400 HP when I get around to rebuilding the engine the way I want it. Also, if I have a tranny cooler, I don't need the internal one they offer on the custom PRC ones, correct? Installation ease is also a factor. Thanks!

Yep sure can.....copper/brass/solder. The good...less expensive. The bad, copper is soft and breaks easily, solder is a terrible conductor of heat. Does not transfer as much heat per area of radiator. Last but not least, old technology.

Aluminum, the good...Large tubed construction means more flow and larger finnal attachment area which translates into much better cooling capacity. A two row 1" radiator is as good as a 4 or 5 row copper in heat conductivity. Aluminum is rigid and will take more stress. Aluminum is lighter. The bad...costs more.

More on cooling and radiators at my tech web site below.

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Steve Jack
-Concept One Pulleys and Brackets
-Marketing Technologies Limited
-Northern/Southern Rodder Magazine's "Jack'Stands" technical column author/originator

[This message has been edited by HOTRODSRJ (edited 07-31-2002).]

Steve, How about a clickable link to the Tech website.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
A.C.E.S.#3731
progress has little to do with speed, but lots to do with direction.
Maryland Chevelle Club (http://www.chevelles.net/mcc/mcc.htm)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by chev64:
Steve, How about a clickable link to the Tech website.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

www.inccn.net/techforum.htm (http://www.inccn.net/techforum.htm) I think this is the site...very informative.

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TC Gold #92/ACES #1709
67 SS & 67 Elky
GR8PMKN (http://www.dalesplace.com/images/chevelle/more_pics/p001182.jpg)

Dale's Place (http://www.dalesplace.com) Team 67 (http://www.team67.com)
Midwest Chevelle Regional Governing Council (http://www.midwestchevelles.com)
Integrity: If you have it, it doesn't matter - If you don't have it, it doesn't matter.

If you wanna go copper/brass, you can probably find a Modine much cheaper than Year1 or NPD. I got a new three row Modine for my 69 for $160 at a local radiator shop. It's a bolt-in fit and cools the car great.

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Mike Newby

69 Chevelle 355/TH200-4R
97 Grand Prix GTP
64 Chevy C10 Pickup
79 Suzuki GS550

thanks for the link Dale and thanks to you too Steve, for providing the info, it should be required reading for all motorheads. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
A.C.E.S.#3731
progress has little to do with speed, but lots to do with direction.
Maryland Chevelle Club (http://www.chevelles.net/mcc/mcc.htm)

Also,
The aluminum radiators are usually all cross-flow, and they place the radiator cap on the low pressure side of the radiator... Better than on the top tank/high pressure side as the old-style vertical flow units... Another reason to go with the aluminum...

Not sure, but all this might be on HOTRODSRJ's site listed above...

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"Once you go RAT, you never go back..."
TC #1366
Tony
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Quik66.jpg
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/eng7.jpg